Ellen Hollman Official

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Hey guys, Ellen here! Or by those closest to me to it’s Elle, Ellie, Elliebell, El-train, E-bomb, Elbow, Elge,’ Elf, or Hurricane Ellen. I’m the type of girl who dives head first to see how deep the water really is, hearing ‘No’ means try harder, and the only settings I operate on are ‘go’ and ‘go faster.’ You could say my goal in life is to squeeze as many awe inspiring moments as I can while I’m still kicking, in case this is the only shot I get at it. This being said, here are a few of my favorite things:

My Favorite cities are NYC & LA. NYC for its expedient, no BS nature and LA because the sun sets a few blocks from my house…

My favorite way to unwind after a crazy day is to play chef. That’s right, throwing on an apron and being semi-domestic keeps me in touch with my feminine side, and gives me an excuse to spend hours at Trader Joes.

In 2008, I became CEO of Visual Impact Now, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing in need LA youth with eye exams and glasses. Managing 1,000 kids for a week long clinic is quite a productive hobby!

When I’m not galloping along the beach with my honey and seeking a more intense workout, my fave workout haven is True Warrior Fitness. Toby Tigerheart helped me get into Saxa warrior shape for Spartacus.

I spend quality time at Hot8Yoga: nothing kicks your ass more than a 100 degree room with weights and ballet!

My favorite place to eat is Kabuki Sushi in Hollywood, best happy hour EVER

I love beautiful Kauai. Any place where you can sip Mai Tais, zip line through a rainforest, and hike to a waterfall within an hour is my kind of paradise.

I was raised by two classical musicians and by default it’s my favorite genre. My mother a master pianist and my father a concert violinist. Here’s a link to the acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra, it will make you smarter just by listening!

My favorite show is Spartacus: War of the Damned. I had the honor and privilege of portraying the first ever born and bred female warrior Saxa. It was an experience of a lifetime working in New Zealand with all the gladiators!

It was anyone’s guess who would be left standing after last year’s blood-soaked finale of Spartacus: Vengeance. Among the survivors was Saxa, a German slave who was rescued by Spartacus’ rebels and joined their stand against the Romans.

Saxa returns to the battlefield this season in Spartacus: War of the Damned, the final installment of the Spartacus saga, and is all the more ready to fight, as Ellen Hollman, who plays the warrior, explains. “As each battle is fought and won, our characters develop, and one of the things I discovered this year about Saxa is that she’s grown into her lioness paws,” says the actress.

“She’s no longer just a feisty rebel. Saxa is not only a true warrior but also a woman of few words, and due to the language barrier, she’s forced to communicate in a more straightforward, poignant fashion. Sometimes it’s crude, other times quite insightful, but Saxa is always aware of what’s going on. Nothing gets past her, and we see more of that wise aspect this season.

“Jumping back into not my character’s boots but her daggers for War of the Damned was an absolute pleasure. I spent so much time off-season training for this role that it just felt natural.

“The key for me with Saxa this time around was embracing her more as a woman than a girl and getting the audience to believe she’s a seasoned fighter.

“I didn’t grow up killing Romans on the battlefield, so convincing viewers that Saxa is a born and bred warrior was tricky, but I think they’re going to be more than pleased with the results.”

Audiences can also expect to see things heat up between Saxa and fellow rebel Gannicus (Dustin Clare).

“My character is essentially the female version of Gannicus,” notes Hollman. “Their relationship has developed from a wine-fueled debaucherous one to one with deeper qualities, quite possibly even love.

“I’m excited to see episode three and how Saxa and Gannicus interact when they’re alone. It’s surprisingly sweet and domestic until a certain ‘something’ is revealed,” teases the actress.

When it comes to the women on the STARZ cable network period drama Spartacus: Vengeance, there certainly are no wallflowers. True, these so called members of the “fairer” sex have at one time or another been put in their place by their respective beefy or politically connected husbands or lovers, but they always seem to bounce back by making good use of their beauty and other feminine wiles.

One character who is more than capable of holding her own in a conflict is Saxa, a German warrior played by Ellen Hollman. While she may still have a great deal to learn about the Roman-centric world around her and how to survive in it, she is more than up to the challenge, mentally as well as physically.

“Saxa is a lioness in training and a born leader, but she’s not quite able to fill out her ‘paws’ yet,” explains Hollman. “She takes what she wants with no hesitation, using pure tenacity, ferocity and a dose of calamity. To step into those paws was an utter and complete challenge for me, not to mention an exceptional joy. To have the liberty to perform with complete, unbridled passion and impulse was a daring feat that will hopefully pay off onscreen.

“Aside from the aforementioned ferocious, tenacious stuff, Saxa is a hero in the making. There is no question in her mind that she can match any man regardless of size or entitlement. This may or may not get her ass kicked from time to time, but that’s how you grow stronger…at least that’s the idea. With this in mind it was a welcome challenge to face being the ‘first female warrior ever to grace the screen of Spartacus.’

“I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but what can prepare you for such a huge chunk to chew? Well, countless hours in gladiator boot camp, of course, attempting to conjure up the most intense and brutal fight sequences for a 115 pound savage. Needless to say there were plenty of cuts, bruises and scrapes, and that was just to the ego,” jokes the actress.

Keeping limber is essential for Spartacus‘ numerous battle and boudoir scenes, but American actress Ellen Hollman also had to exercise her foreign language skills to play the new warrior woman Saxa.

“It’s not just a fighting role and a physical role, but also one that requires fluent German. They failed to mention both of those aspects when I was reading for it,” Hollman tells TVGuide.com. When Hollman heard that casting director Paul Weber had just returned from Hamburg, she made a comment in German. “He was like, ‘Wait, you speak German?’ I said, ‘What do you think ‘Hollman’ is?’ And [series creator] Steven DeKnightwas cracking up and said, ‘This is a German role. We just didn’t specify that because nobody speaks German.’ I’ve also been doing fighting stunts for quite some time, so I guess it was just one of those things that was meant to be.”

In Friday’s episode of Spartacus: Vengeance (10/9c, Starz), Saxa (Hollman) continues to fight alongside Spartacus’ men, seeking to liberate all from the tyranny of the dissolute Roman elite. Saxa was among the German slaves that the rebels had freed from a Neapolis slave ship as new recruits to their cause.

Check out Hollman’s other insights into Saxa and the dangers and pleasures on set:

What was your reaction when you read for the part of Saxa? Were there any surprises?
Ellen Hollman: It was a massive casting call. What’s funny is that the character description is so much different from what you see on the screen. The material I had to read was actually Ashur’s (Nick E. Tarabay) monologue when he’s basically torturing Oenomaus (Peter Mensah). So from my perspective, I thought the character was going to be more refined, if not Romanesque. Even the attire I wore for the audition was more Roman… But I was meant to play a filthy, German, feral savage.

Want to look like a star? Have what they’re having! Every week, we’ll tell you what healthy meals help our favorite stars power through their day. This week, we talked to actress Ellen Hollman, who’s currently starring in STARZ channel’s newest show, Spartacus: Vengeance.

Hollman, who has appeared on hits like Weeds, Medium and Criminal Minds, is the newest addition to the Spartacus: Vengeance series on STARZ. The historical drama is the sequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and follows the gladiator rebellion into battle with the Roman Republic. The small costumes and intense fight scenes call for Hollman to be in peak form for her role as Saxa, an alluring and passionate female warrior.

Off screen, the actress is a warrior for a different cause. As CEO of Visual Impact Now, Hollman raises funds to provide free eye exams and glasses to children and families who are unable to otherwise afford it.

Check out Hollman’s breakfast below to see what fuels the actress for her on-screen battles and off-screen fundraising.

“I prefer jump starting the day with a Luna bar doused in almond butter,” says Hollman. “Not only are they loaded with essential nutrients for women, but Luna is a major supporter of the Breast Cancer Fund and Healthy Child Healthy World. I’ll pair that with a cup of coffee–it’s like jet fuel! That’s my perfect breakfast.”

Looking to make almond butter part of your healthy breakfast routine like Hollman? Test run SELF’s almond butter and banana smoothie recipe–it’s got 14 grams of protein to fuel you all morning long.

Ellen Hollman is the latest addition to the cast of “Spartacus: Vengeance,” which has it’s season premiere on Friday, January 27th. She’ll appear a few episodes in as Saxa, a pretty touch chick. We were lucky enough to get a preview of her character, her feelings on nudity and who Saxa is going to hook up with. Also, she is hysterical!

“Saxa is the first female German warrior to join the ranks of Spartacus. She’s fierce, fun, intelligent and a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. In other words, she will kick your *ss and have a laugh about it later.” She has her eye one one of the hot guys in the show … at least Saxa does. “She has a keen eye for Gannicus (Dustin Clare),” she says “And not one to take ‘no’ lightly.” Well, where there is love or lust, there is certainly sex, especially on this show. We asked her if the nudity made her hesitate at all. She replies, “Nudity? There’s nudity on this show? I’d better start doing some sit-ups.” Okay, we love this girl already!

Hollman said she loves working with the cast. “They are, and continue to be like family. I’m beyond fortunate to have such genuine, dedicated and supportive friends by my side on screen. It is extremely helpful when you’re thousands of miles from home.” When asked if she’d been a fan of the show, she answered, “Yes! Hell, yes!” We asked her how intense this season will be for her. “Your jaw will be on the floor,” she says. About the show’s popularity, Hollman explains, “It crosses every line normally saved for film. It sets new boundaries for television as we know it from performance, to fight, to choreography and aesthetics with beyond shocking story lines.”

Hollman says there is no shortage of funny moments on the set. “Once I became overly confident with my fight choreography,” she says. “I decided to ’embellish’ a few moments in between (we did, after all, spend a good 8-10 hours shooting each fight sequence and idle time in Saxa’s hands is quite dangerous). Mira (Katrina Law) and I had a fight together and after we defeated the competition, I grabbed her face and laid a big ole kiss on her. The reaction from everyone was beyond priceless! Needless to say it made the final cut. Ha!”

Finally, we asked this funny lady if there were any juicy tidbits she could tease for us. She says, “Forget the tease, I’ll give away an entire plot line with one of Saxa’s lines: ‘Warum hast du die römische Hure nur freigegeben, um im Gegenzug nichtserhalten?’ That sh*t is crazy right?” Okay, Ellen Hollman. You rock! We can’t wait to see Saxa if this interview is any indication! (In case you’re wondering, it translates to something like, “Why have you released the Roman whore only to get nothing in return?”)